Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Davis.
Hi Matthew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My Story
My journey started when I was about 15 years old. I began working for a close friend and mentor, Mike Hill, who owned a large catering company in Gainesville, Florida. Mike was more than a boss — he was like family to me. He gave me my first real opportunity, working weekends catering events and cooking barbecue.
Over the years, that experience shaped me into who I am today. I worked for Mike for many years, learning not only the art of barbecue but also the importance of hard work, humility, and dedication. During that time, I put myself through the police academy and began a career in law enforcement.
Even while serving as a deputy sheriff, I never let go of my passion for barbecue. Cooking was in my blood — my family had deep roots in the local community through butchering and barbecue. It came naturally to me, and I continued to cook for friends, family, and my fellow officers. Seeing people come together over a good meal reminded me of why I loved it so much.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, life changed for everyone. For me, it became a time of reflection and growth. I found myself cooking more than ever, fine-tuning my recipes, and rediscovering my passion. Reaching my goals in law enforcement was fulfilling, but with the unwavering support of my beautiful and supportive wife—a devoted nurse whose encouragement and hard work have been a blessing for me—I was able to take a leap of faith, retire from law enforcement, and begin my new entrepreneurial chapter in this industry.
With just $300 in my pocket, a Blackstone grill, a Pit Boss smoker, and a pop-up tent, I started my company. It wasn’t easy. I faced financial struggles, the loss of family and friends, and even challenges with building and protecting my company’s name. But through every obstacle — from the pandemic to personal loss — I made a choice: to grow, to learn, and to turn every setback into a lesson. Through it all, my wife, kids and my parents were my foundation — encouraging me, helping behind the scenes, and believing in me when times were toughest. Their love and support kept me going when giving up seemed easier.
Those trials taught me patience, perseverance, and faith. I’ve poured all of that into my company at the sacrifice of my marriage— every ounce of hard work, every long nights, and every early morning fueled by wood smoke and determination, while missing important moments with my family at home.
What started as a weekend job for a teenage kid has grown into a business built on family values, community, and a deep love for authentic barbecue. My story is about more than cooking — it’s about faith, resilience, and the belief that no matter what life throws at you, you can build something great from the ashes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve had to overcome lots of different obstacles and challenges from starting a company with only $300 in my pocket and no real true guidance on Food trucking to loss of family members and friends to dealing with the Covid pandemic to dealing with the company name being BLUELINEQ me being a retired cop and people not caring for law-enforcement or cops so it’s definitely not been an easy road.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I oversee the day-to-day operations in the pits, ensuring that every product leaving our kitchen meets the high standards our customers expect. Alongside that, I focus heavily on recipe development and creative growth for the company. I’m always working on new ideas, new flavors, and new ways to improve our processes and offerings. My goal is to keep the company evolving — maintaining the quality and tradition we’re known for while continuing to push forward with innovation and fresh ideas that keep our customers excited and coming back.
How do you think about luck?
I’ve had good luck and bad luck in business there’s times where I’ve been very very successful and there’s times that I’ve lost lots of money. My business has put a lot of strain on my marriage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.blueLineQ.com
- Instagram: Blulineq
- Facebook: Blulineq
